Driving around at night is a necessity that most people with a car will end up facing in their lives. While driving is dangerous at all times, driving at night can lead to an array of new potential dangers. Night driving can’t be avoided, so it is important that people approach the act with caution and preparation. Drivers young and old owe it to themselves to learn as much as they can about how to drive safely at night. After all, driving is one of the most dangerous actions most of us take in our day-to-day lives. Keep on reading in order to find out about seven simple tips that will help to keep you safe while driving at night.

Quick Tips For Safe Driving At Night

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatal accidents are more than three times likely to occur at night when compared to daytime accidents. We don’t say this to make you paranoid or to scare you. Instead, we want to make it abundantly clear that driving at night is demonstrably more dangerous than driving during the day. Our goal is to put you into a mindset where you don’t need to have a phone number for the best car accident Murphy’s Law lawyers available at all times. So, how can you approach driving at night in a safe way? Keep on reading in order to find out.

1. Take It Slow

This safety tip is particularly true for rural drivers. There is a reason that most animals tend to stay hidden during the day and it is because they are most active at night. Drivers on country roads, in particular, need to pay attention for animals of all shapes and sizes. It’s always a better option to take it slow while driving at night. You never know when a deer or raccoon will run into the road.

2. Drive Defensively

If you remember your driver’s education class, you likely remember being told that driving is a ‘defensive’ action. What does this mean? It means that you need to assume that people, animals, and obstacles might get into your way. Always be on the lookout for potential problems and be ready to react. This means that you’ll need to keep your eyes open, your attention focused, and your feet at the ready in case you need to brake. You should ALWAYS be driving defensively, but night driving underscores the importance of defensive driving.

3. Replace Your Headlights

When was the last time you replaced your headlights? If it has been awhile, you might be due to order a new set of bulbs. As your headlight bulbs age, they diminish in terms of power. With headlights that are dying, you aren’t going to have as clear of a view as necessary in order to drive safely at night. Order replacement bulbs in order to keep your driving experience at night safe.

4. Clean Your Windshield

Your windshield needs to be clean and clear at all times, especially at night. Small smudges during the day can look even worse at night. When your windshield is dirty and your vision is limited, you run the risk of getting into collisions due to your limited vision. Keep your windshield nice and clean and make sure that you always have windshield wiper fluid available. If you have cracks or scratches in your windshield, consider getting them repaired. Small visual issues during the day can be amplified at night.

5. Use Your High Beams

A lot of people tend to forget that their high beams even exist. When you are driving at night, make sure to employ the use of your overhead beams in order to keep your vision as clear as possible. High beams are particularly important when you are driving in the country because they will give you an advantage when it comes to seeing animals before they enter the road. Always remember to turn your high beams off when other drivers pass you going the other direction as you do not want to blind them.

6. Get Rid Of Distractions

When you are driving at night, it is easy to become distracted. While it is nice to blast great music during a drive, you might be better off turning down your music. With your music turned down, you’ll better be able to pay attention to the road ahead of you and the surrounding obstacles. So, keep the music turned down while you are driving at night. Additionally, you should also keep your phone turned off, on silent, or in a position where you are not looking at it. Phones are one of the leading causes of fatal car accidents in the world. We cannot underscore this point enough: leave your phone alone while you are driving. Do not answer texts. Don’t flip through your music. Don’t browse the internet. Don’t post on Snapchat. Leave your phone alone.

7. Don’t Drive Tired

Finally, you need to make sure that you do not drive tired at night. Driving tired is problematic at any time of night or day, but it can be particularly devastating at night. Tired driving is the same as drunk driving and it is equally dangerous to you and the surrounding people. There are a variety of ways that you can fight fatigueif you must drive, however. Consider keeping a bag of sunflower seeds in your car that you can chew on while you drive. Also, consider keeping caffeine pills and water on hand in order to help keep you awake during your drive.

Driving at night can be dangerous, but it doesn’t have to be deadly. Practice the safety tips that we highlighted above in order to make your nightly drives safer. Don’t lose track of what is important while you are driving and always leave your phone alone while you are at the wheel. By following the safety tips highlighted above, you’ll hopefully learn to drive as safe as possible at night.

I am Bhagwati Suthar, Founder of Jobiba & TezLife.com. I am a Blogger, Affiliate Marketer and a Digital Marketer from Udaipur, India. At JobibaBlog, We share articles about Blogging, Marketing & Advertising, Business and Tech Tips.